STOROST, Wilhelmas (Vilius Storasta; pseudonym Vydünas, Vîdûnas)

STOROST, Wilhelmas (Vilius Storasta; pseudonym Vydünas, Vîdûnas). Jonaten, Lith. Jonaičinose (Jonaičiai), Šilute, German East Prussia 22.3.1868 — Detmold 20.2.1963. Lithuanian (in Germany) Author and Theosophist interested in Sanskrit. Born in German East Prussia as member of the Lithuanian minority. In 1892 graduated from Ragnit (Ragainė) teachers’ seminary and 1896 from Königsberg University. In 1892-1912 taught English and French in Tilsit, during summers further studies, now also Sanskrit, at the universities of Greifswald, Halle, Leipzig and Berlin. In 1917-19 taught Lithuanian at Berlin University. Again schoolteacher in East Prussia he became a leading figure in Lithuanian cultural life there. Therefore persecuted by the Nazis, arrested in 1938, but released, in 1944 escaped before Russians to West Germany. Translated the Bhg. from Sanskrit into Lithuanian.